FOR NIGEL Worthington, the sense of déjà-vu was crushing. Anxious to build on the wave of optimism and heightened expectation that had followed Northern Ireland's narrow failure to reach this summer's Euro 2008 finals in Austria and Switzerland, the manager was instead confronted by the familiar failings that afflict his side whenever they leave their Windsor Park comfort zone.

Second-half goals - both avoidable - from Liverpool's Martin Skrtel and Marek Hamsik exposed Northern Ireland's tendency to under-perform on their travels. And while an own goal from Jan Durica, nine minutes from time, inspired an impressive late rally, it was insufficient to prevent a deflating defeat for the fifth time in their past six opening qualifying games.

Not for the first time, the Irish must repair that damage at home, this time against Group 3 favourites Czech Republic, who toyed with England at Wembley last month. Recent history suggests that a morale-boosting win is far from beyond Worthington's side, but the true test of their hopes of qualifying for a major finals for the first time since 1986 will be their ability to prevent a repeat of this kind of defeat.

'It was a game we should have got something from,' said Worthington. 'But through ill-discipline on set plays, we have paid a heavy price and lost the game. That's the frustrating thing. To concede two goals from set plays is very disappointing. In the first half, they had a lot of possession, but did not really hurt us. Then we go a goal down straight after half-time. That put us on the back foot and we had to get ready to go again.

'We showed more of what we are about in the last 15-20 minutes, but it's hugely disappointing because we could have got something from the game. The Czech match was tough before this - it is even tougher now. We have to get a result.'

The disappointment within Northern Ireland ranks was accentuated by the denial of a penalty when Chris Baird's shot appeared to hit a Slovak defender's arm. While Worthington's men protested, the home side broke, earning the free-kick that led to the second goal.

'I don't blame referees when there are penalty shouts,' Worthington said. 'That can be seen as an excuse. If he gives it he gives it; if not, we get on with the game. If we don't concede the second goal, we go away with a point, which is a fair result and we are off the mark.'

Worthington has attempted to transform his side's fortunes away from home by reshaping the team, drafting in Baird as a holding midfielder - and, for the first half at least, the plan appeared to work. It was Northern Ireland who carved out the better opportunities, with David Healy and Sammy Clingan threatening in the opening 10 minutes

Healy had a second, clearer, opportunity two minutes before the interval and, given his previous exploits in a green shirt - he came into this game having scored 34 goals in 65 international appearances - he should have done better than pull his shot across the face of the goal.

In between, though, Slovakia had asserted more control on the game, yet, despite their steady improvement, it was Northern Ireland who reached half-time with growing confidence.

That, however, was to change dramatically 55 seconds into the second half, when Keith Gillespie - making his first appearance of the season after an ankle injury - committed a clumsy free-kick on the Irish right. The ball in was met by Skrtel, who headed powerfully past Maik Taylor in the Northern Ireland goal.

Worse was to come when, Baird having been denied the penalty shout, Durica was allowed to head the ball back across the face of the goal, where Hamsik finished from close range for Slovakia's second in the 70th minute.

Durica turned Chris Brunt's cross into his own goal 11 minutes later to give Northern Ireland hope and spark a late rally that could easily have earned Worthington's side a point. Defender George McCartney was convinced he had equalised when he connected with a last-minute header, but his effort was kept out by Slovakia keeper Stefan Senecky.